Stadium comes alive — in June — to root on Cats

Director Norton Dill used a Canon SLR to film fans as he produced a scene for a promotional video for UK's football program at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky., Thursday evening, June 16, 2011.
MATT GOINS

The University of Kentucky football season isn't scheduled to start until Sept. 1 against Western Kentucky, but that didn't stop about 100 fans from cheering in mid-June.

Cats supporters of all ages showed up at Commonwealth Stadium on Thursday decked out in blue to be part of a promotional video for the season.

One of the first to show was Richard Mullins, who said he rarely misses a UK football event.

"Any time UK needs me, I'll be here," Mullins said. "I've been to every game here at Commonwealth since they opened it. Any time they put out the call, I'm right here."

Mullins showed his loyalty by bringing a large UK football flag to wave around in the video.

One fan donned an old-style football helmet with a UK logo on it, while others dyed their hair blue.

Ben Wooldridge and his family drove from Louisville. "It's never too early to get excited for the season," Wooldridge said.

The shoot lasted for about an hour, featuring the fans simulating what it's like to celebrate a great play. They cheered on cue and performed "C-A-T-S" and "Go Big Blue" chants.

Mullins said he's ready to see the team improve from last season's run that ended in the BBVA Compass Bowl.

"They've got talent now, they just need to find some leadership," Mullins said. "That's what they were lacking last year."

That notion inspired the theme of the video — "Rise." UK marketing assistant Nathan Schwake said the team will be looking for its next leader to "rise up."

Video director Norton Dill said a time-lapse sequence of a sunrise will open the video, and the American Spiritual Ensemble — directed by UK opera director Everett McCorvey — will provide music throughout with a UK-styled rendition of a gospel song called Rise.

"The idea is to start off very slow and quietly, then build it up to a real exciting ending and get everybody pumped up for the next season," Dill said.

Dill said Thursday was the first day of shooting and added that footage of the football team will be filmed before the video is complete.

Dill told the fans that he hopes to have the video finished within three weeks. It will be posted on the UK Athletics Association's Facebook page and Web site, and on YouTube.

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